The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-09-30
THE EIHI5AL QUALITY o.
PoLIRICs.
[FOR THE BULLETIN. I

I1 nix up moral anu religious SUI
jscts with politics, and that ministers
of the gospel who set forth the truths
pertaining to government and wrong
legislation from their pulpits are
very much out Of their line Of dnty
and the minister who breaches
politics" as it is called, Is very LA
BILE to have his co arse called in
question, at lest by some worthy
member of his focI whose zeal is
greatly in excess Of his good sense.
It might be we'll for these con-
scientious critics to investigate both
the political and scriptusl side Of
the question, and f their theory
is we il>founded.
We read of a class who 'strain
at a gnat and swallow a camel - and
we are persu2 ded that this uncom-
Portable feat is quite commonly ex-
ecuted, even am ong peol lie who boast
Of some de yree IF goad sense and jud ,
ment. First, let us ask. Nhat is the
mean1ng'Of the word politics, and
what subject do Lee tinately come
within It's jurisdiction? We quote
Webster for the benefit of those
who have evidently never rea his
definition. He says:
"Politics Is that part Of ethics
which has to do with Tie regulation
aud government Of a nation or state
the preservation Of its safety, peace
and prosperity, the augmentation
of its strength AMI resources, and
the protection Of its citizens in their
rights, with the preserva ton and
improvement Of their morals"
This is the real true Specification
of politics. The werd IS also used in
a bad sense to mean political trick
cry and partyism, and such politics
have no right to be mixed with any
question Of national welfare, or any
claim to our consideration. The sub
| Jet # olitics, then, as relating to
ethics, embraces these five divisions
First, regulation and government;
second, preservation of safety, peace
and prosperity; third, augmentation
Of strength and resources; fourth,
protection of rights, and fifth, NOR
ahiY. Now, in view of this defni>
ton, VIII some one kindly tell us
where 10 draw the line of distinction
between politics and moral and re-
hgious questions, end define the legiti-
mate locus Of these questions?
As we have ascertdlued, occord-
ing to good authority, what the o5N
ject of political system Is or should
be, let US consider The duties Of the
minister of the gospel, and see If
they are different IN aim from civil
duties,
To What IS the servant of the
Lord called, if not to teach truth
and justice, and to set forth the du.-
ties Of mau TO man in a practical
light, to labor to promote those in
fuences, and inculcate those ideas
that will tend toward the safety,
peace ana prosperity Of his people2
The great trend Of the gogpeI is Tor
peace, and David said ot tie Church
"rhey shall prosper that love thee. .
| Who labo.s for the augmentatlln Of
he strength Of the nation, If not the
faithful min lister? Her strength es
net III drunken rioters, SALONS, jails
and puor-t ouses, but in her true
citizens, her churches, SCHOOLS, cleI -
" and teachers, her noble and intel
iectual SOILS and daughters, What
countries protect their citizens in
their lights? Only Christian nations,
and it's the averred missiln of II e
Church and all Christian people TO
labor for the imp pavement of morals
Ihen the work Of our political 5, -
tenn and that Of our religious system
is one an / the same, differing only
IN method. Tho province of The one
is legal, and of ii e other moral sua~
sion, and one without the other can
do nothing.
Does some one say that is lack OF
faith? Mol for God never answers
prayer " ithOut effort is pat nth by
ourselves. "God gives every bird
its food, but does not throw it into
the nest" says some one, and while
it is the province OF the pulpit to cry
out against all SIN, and educate the
peOple-(fSr 'WOe unto them that
cry peace when tn re is no peace, J
1T Is the province ,aah branch of
the government to do its practical
work of reform,
TIE claim that reli sious and moral
questions must be kept out Of a sys~
tenn founded on morals aud religion.
is abserd, sinful and reasonable.
The liquor powe is the sworn enemy
of all salty, pea e and pre- sperlty;
instead of giving rength destroys
both physical, mental AID moral
power, and gives none IN return
save the maniac strength of the victim
OF delirium tremens. 1t DERIVES